Hermetic closure for receptacles.



W. A. LORENZ.

HERMETIC CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.23.1910.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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COLUMBIA PhANOdRAPHfiO WASHINOTONI D. c.

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WILLIAM A. LORENZ, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO i WILLIAM H. I-IONISS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, AND ONE-HALF TO BEECH-NUT PACKING COMPANY, OF GANAJOHARIE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HERMETIG CLOSURE FOR RECEPTAOLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed December 23, 1910. Serial No. 599,057.

This invention relates to closure joints for I vacuum sealed jars or other packages in which the seal is maintained by an elastic gasket'compressed in the joint between the rec-eptacleand its cap or cover by atmosphericpressure, due to the vacuum lnduced within the package.

The invention is particularly adapted to the sealing of packages, the component'parts ofwhich are suitable for household or other uses, after the package is opened and its original contents have, been disposed of. Largely becauseof the inherent difliculties in the secure and reliable commercial sealing of these packages, the component parts thereof are usually adapted in form and materialv to theirinitial purpose of forming a reliable sealed package, and Without any provision for subsequent uses, the meeting rims being either grooved or shouldered, or thin and flexible, or in some other way disqualified for subsequent permanent service, excepting as a cover, or for some other inferior and temporary use.

In a number of prior patents Ihave shown, described and claimed various forms of closures which may be successfully applied to the sealing of plain rimmed receptacles, such as tumblers; but in most of these cases, the cover employed is merely a cap made of tin or other thin and flexible metal, having a downwardly turned thin edged flange which overlaps and projects below the lower edge of the receptacle, and forms a lapped or telescoping joint with the receptacles, either 011 the inner or outer side thereof, the flexibility of the thin flange enabling it to conform to the variations and inequalities incident to the manufacture of the tumblers.

It is an important object of the'present invention to provide for sealing together or bowl.

two plain rimmed receptacles, either or both of which may be of metal, or of glass or similar material having rounded and substantially inflexible edges, and otherwise suitable for household use, as cups, dishes, saucers, or pans, etc. According to the present invention the plain rims of these receptacles are of approxiinately equal perimeter,

or so nearly equal that they will not interlap or telescope together. These rounded rims are disposed in abutting proximity to each other, with a sealing gasket between them, and are therefore joined by what may be termed an butting or butt joint, as distinguished from the inter-lapping or lap oints which are commonly used in thehermetic sealing of cans and jars.

Figure 1 of the drawings is an elevation in cross-section showing a package of which the body portion is in the general form of a tumbler, while the cover portion is in the general form of a saucer. In this figure, the parts are shown in their unsealed airexhausting position. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the package shown in'Fig. 1, showing it in its sealed condition, a portion being broken away to show the sealed joint in cross-section. In these two figures the abutting rims of. the two receptacles are of slightly different diameter. Fig. 3 is an elevation in cross-section of a package composed of two similar receptacles, which in this case are shown to be made of sheet metal, with its edges turned over. In this view the package is shown in its unsealed or exhausting position. Fig. i is a side elevation, showing the package of Fig. 3 in its sealed condition, a portion being broken away to show the gasket joint.

The receptacle 11 (Figs. 1 and 2) has a plain rim 15 upon which rests the gasket 18, which supports the cap or cover 12, which also has a plain rim 16. Both the receptacle 11 and the cap 12 are of common household form, the cap being made in the form ,of'a

shallow dish or saucer while thereceptacle or body is in the form of a deeper tumbler The parts are guided in proper sealing relation to each other by a band 14,

30., r tains the gasket in proper relation to the which encircles the package joint and the outer surface of the gasket 13. This band sustains the gasket so that the latter cannot suitable implement may be thrust to puncs ture the gasket and admit air when it is desired to open the package. r g

The rim l6 of the cap 12 is here shown as being made a little larger in diameterthan the rim 15 of the receptacle body 11, which is here shown as an ordinary glass tumbler.

Owing to this difference in diameter the pressure on the cap has a wedgingaction, which gives an eifectlve pressure upon the gasket 23 greater than would be exerted by a direct do'wnwardpressure, such as shown inthe other figures. This is by no means an essential feature; but for packages of small diameter having a comparatively small area upon which the atmospheric pressure may act, the wedging action may-be found preferable, since it increases the eifective sealing pressure upon the gasket. In this construction, the band 14 not only rejoint, but also forms a circumferential reinforcement for the edges of the body and cover, to protect them from being split or chipped. I, 7

In the package shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the body portion 21 and cover portion 22 are shown to be of the same size and form. They are herein represented as being made of sheet metal, having their edges rolled, or seamed, or folded, to avoid presenting sharp edges, thus fori'ning rounded rims 25 and 26 between which is seated the gasket 23, which in this instance is shown to be circular in cross-section. In this instance the circular band 24: is shown to be shaped concave on its inner surface, to facilitate seating and maintaining the band and the gasket in proper relation to each other. The lower 7 and upper edges 29 are preferably made to ing operation. In this case, as iii Figs. 1 and 2, the band may be regarded'as a carrier for the respective gaskets, the rims of the respective packages sliding or telescope ing into the hand, against the opposite sides of the gasket. Obviously, "any of these bands may be placed upon the inner side of the joint, receiving the gaskets and the receptacle rims against their outer sides. But for general purposes, and especially where the gasket at the side the receptacles are made of glass or other brittle material, I consider it preferable to employ the band upon the exterior surface of the joint, as herein showmsince'iin that case they not only serve to guide and'support the parts during the sealing operation, but also serve the additional purpose of protecting the edges of the receptacles from being broken or chipped during subsequent handling or transportation.

. The rounded rims confine and concentrat their pressure upon a relatively narrowzone of the gasket forming a continuous line- 0f pressure around it, forcing the surplus rubber away from that line, and thus establishing an effective endless circle of sealing can tact, the pressure upon which is by'reason of convex rims much greater than it would be if distributed over the greater area ofthe fiat rims-or the fiat gaskets now more commanly used. Moreover, it is exceedingly difficult to manufacture vessels orr'eceptaf cles, having a comparatively rigidand inflexible rim, with suflicientaccura'cy, sothat the rims will meet in a flat plane. on account of the rims being thus more or less wavy, they will, when opposed, or 'abutted together, generally touch each other only at row lines of pressureseat more deeply into the gasket, thereby stretching and fu'lling or sides of the line of pressure. r I claim as my inventioni i 1. The combination of a receptacle and cover having convexly rounded rims disposed in abutting proximity to each other, a gasket interposed between and receiving the opposing rounded rims along the middle zones of the upper and lower surfaces of the gasket, and a metallic band on the outercircumference of the gasket, provided with an opening to facilitate opening the joint.

intervals around the joint; 'Such'inequalis' 2'. The combination of a receptacle and cover having rounded rims disposed in abut ting proximity to each other, a gasket inter posed between the opposing rounded rims and provided with circumferential grooves in its upper and lower surfaces for seating and locating the said opposing rims in concentric sealing relation to eaeh other, and a metallic band extending circumferentially.

around the. outer surface of the gasket, and

provided with an aperture to 'facilitateopening the joint;

' 3. The combination of a receptacle and cover having roundedrims disposedin abutting proximity to each other, a gasket interposed between and receiving the opposing rounded rims against the middle zone of In testimony whereof I have signed mythe upper and lower surfaces of the gasket name to this specification in the presence of and a band interlapping the said rims and two subscribing Witnesses.

the gasket to support and reinforce the WILLIAM A. LORENZ. sealed joint, the band being provided with Witnesses:

an opening to facilitate the opening of the K. PEILER,

joint. NELLIE PHOENIX.

Oopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. 0 

